Delta t-bar spectrometer readout device

Claim 2

In device for concentrating over a period of time trace quantities of gaseous constituents of an atmosphere for measurement in more concentrated form wherein the trace constituents are cumulatively condensed in zones on a surface cooled to a predetermined temperature gradient according to vapor pressures thereof, respectively, thermally conductive tube means thermally insulated from the ambient atmosphere, first heat exchange means for establishing a first reference temperature at one portion of said tube means, second heat exchange means for establishing a second reference temperature below said first temperature at a second portion of said tube means, a transparent wall portion in said tube means extending between said first and second portions, and means illuminating said wall portion and any zoned condensate thereon to provide optically observable zones of condensation therealong.

Claim 3

In a device according to claim 1, said tube means being transparent and said means illuminating said wall portion being a source of illumination transmitted through the tube for selective absorption by said condensate.

Claim 4

In a device according to claim 1 a photocell and means for recording variations of light passing through said wall portion and means causing the photocell to traverse the length of said wall portion to provide sequential readout of respective quantities of condensate according to gas quantities.

Claim 5

In a device according to claim 1, means for generating a signal proportional to light absorbed in respective zones of condensate in succession, means for causing uniform traversal of the transparent wall portion and means for recording the magnitude of said signal as a function of the temperature of condensation of gases in said zones, respectively.

Claim 6

In a device according to claim 1, said means illuminating said wall portion being a source of uniform back lighting, said tube means being transparent, and means traversible along said tube between said first and second portions for detecting differences in light transmitted through the tube corresponding to zones of condensation for said constituents.

Claim 7

In a device for selective concentration of gases in zones from a sample supplied at a first temperature by passing said sample along a thermally conductive body held between said first temperature at one end and a lower temperature at the other end to provide a temperature gradient therealong encompassing condensation temperatures for each of said gases at the prevailing partial pressures, means insulating said body from heat sources and heat sinks between the regions at said temperatures, means conveying said samples along said body from one temperature region to the other, to cause selective zones of condensation, source means for Illuminating said zones of condensation, means for detecting light from said zones, means traversing said detecting means along the length of said body to successively detect light in said zones, and means recording light as a function of the zones of condensation on the body.

Claim 8

In a device for selective concentration of gases in zones from a sample supplied at a first temperature by passing said sample along a thermally conductive body held between said first temperature at one end and a lower temperature at the other end to provide a temperature gradient therealong encompassing condensation temperatures for each of said gases at the prevailing partial pressures, means insulating said body from heat sources and heat sinks between the regions at said temperatures, means conveying said samples along said body from one temperature region to the other, to cause selective zones of condensation, source means for Illuminating said zones of condensation, means for detecting light from said zones, means traversing said detecting means along the length of said body to successively detect light in said zones, and means recording light as a function of the zones of condensation on the body.

Claim 9

In a device according to claim 6, said body being a metallic conductor of heat.

Claim 10

In a device according to claim 6 said detecting means being a photocell traversed along the body and operatively connected to record zones of condensate as a function of distance of traverse between a first and second said temperature.

Claim 11

In a device according to claim 6, said body being a metallic tube having a transparent window along one side, and said source means being arranged to illuminate said window exteriorly.

Claim 12

In a device according to claim 6, said means for detecting light being a photocell arranged to traverse the tube axially.