US3610759A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for analyzing atomic spectra of gas samples
Assignee: MERCANTILE SAFE DEPOSIT AND TR
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Filing: 1967-06-14
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1987-06-14
Abstract
Abstract An elemental gas analyzer wherein the gas is converted into a highly ionized and dense plasma in which the molecules are completely disassociated into their respective atoms. The plasma is created by a magnetically coupled source of radio frequency energy and the resulting atomic spectral emission lines are monitored by a plural channel spectrographic detector for providing an indication of the concentration of each of the atoms present in the plasma from which the quality and quantity of gas may be accurately determined.
Inventors
- 👤 Lowell L Wood Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:56
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J65/00; H01J65/04; H01J65/042; G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/28; G01J3/30; G01J3/36; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/66; G01N21/69
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said radio frequency energy has a frequency in the range of 1- 50 megahertz.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a carrier gas, for sustaining the discharge, is injected into said conduit along with said sample gas, said carrier gas having a relatively high excitation potential with respect to the excitation potential of said sample gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said carrier is gas helium.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
106 words
The method of quantitatively and qualitatively analyzing a gas, said method comprising the steps of: a. flowing a sample of the gas into a toroidal shaped conduit, at least a portion of which is transparent, b. creating a high-intensity ring discharge in said gas to produce a dense plasma current wherein the molecules of said gas are substantially completely disassociated, c. monitoring the intensity of a plurality of atomic spectral emission lines produced by said plasma from a plurality of different types of atoms, and d. determining an empirical formula for the gas being analyzed from the relative intensities of the atomic and ionic spectral emissions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of maintaining the pressure within said conduit at a value in the range of 0.1 mm.(Hg) to 1 atmosphere.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for gas analysis comprising: a conduit, said conduit having an input port for receiving a sample of gas to be analyzed and an output port, means for flowing a sample of gas to be analyzed into said conduit, a source of radio frequency energy, means for magnetically coupling said source of radio frequency energy to said conduit for generating high-intensity ring discharge in said gas so that the molecules in at least a region thereof become substantially completely disassociated, and means for detecting the relative intensities of a plurality of atomic and ionic spectral emissions from a plurality of different types of atoms in said region thereby permitting determination of an empirical formula for said gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said conduit is formed in a closed loop having said input port at one side thereof and said output port at the other side thereof, said magnetically coupled radio frequency energy thereby being effective to generate a high-intensity current flow around said closed loop.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for magnetically coupling said radio frequency energy to said conduit and comprising: a toroid of high-permeability material disposed about said conduit, a coil wound about said toroid, and means for connecting said source of radio frequency energy to said coil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for detecting the spectral emissions comprises: a plural channel spectrographic detector having a corresponding plurality of radiation sensitive elements, each of said elements being responsive to a different and discrete wavelength of the radiations emitted by the atoms of the gas to be analyzed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising readout means associated with each of said plural channels of said spectrographic detector for providing an indication of the empirical formula of the gas being analyzed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the frequency of said radio frequency source is between 1 and 50 megahertz.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said high-intensity ring discharge produces a current density on the order of 103 amps-cm. 2.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further including means for injecting a carrier gas into said conduit along with the gas to be analyzed for sustaining said ring discharge, said carrier gas having a relatively high excitation potential with respect to the excitation potential of the gas to be analyzed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said carrier gas is helium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for maintaining the pressUre within said conduit as a value in the range of 0.1 mm.(Hg) to 1 atmosphere.
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) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |