US3628339A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid sample stream conditioning
Assignee: Beckman Coulter Inc
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Filing: 1970-01-27
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Granted: 1971-12-21
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Expires: 1990-01-27
Abstract
Abstract The instant disclosure relates to apparatus for and a method of conditioning a fluid sample stream, for example, for passage through an analytical instrument. The method involves passing a gas under pressure into a vortex tube so that the gas separates into two exit streams from the vortex tube, a heated stream and a cooled stream. The cooled stream is passed into heat exchange relationship with the fluid sample stream so that the fluid sample is cooled. The heated stream is passed into heat exchange relationship with the cooled fluid sample so that the fluid sample is heated, whereby the fluid sample stream is conditioned. The apparatus includes a fluid conduit having an inlet and an outlet. A hollow heat exchange jacket having a cooling section and a heating section surrounds the conduit so as to form a heating section and a cooling section in the conduit. Means are provided for introducing a gas under pressure into a vortex tube so that the gas separates into two exit streams from the vortex tube, a heated stream and a cooled stream. Means are provided for passing the heated gas stream into the heating section of the heat exchange jacket and means are also provided for passing the cooled gas stream into the cooling section of the heat exchange jacket. Suitable means are provided for passing the fluid sample stream through the conduit so that it travels through the section surrounded by the cooling section of the jacket and through the section surrounded by the heating section, whereby the fluid sample stream is cooled and heated.
Inventors
- 👤 Joe A Porter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:53
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for conditioning a fluid sample stream which comprises: a. a fluid conduit having an inlet and an outlet; b. a hollow heat exchange jacket, having a cooling section and a heating section, surrounding the conduit so as to form a heating section and a cooling section in the conduit; c. a vortex tube; d. means for introducing a gas under pressure into the vortex tube so that the gas separates into two exit streams from the vortex tube, a heated stream and a cooled stream; e. means for passing the heated gas stream into the heating section of the heat exchange jacket; f. means for passing the cooled gas stream into the cooling section of the heat exchange jacket; g. means for passing the fluid sample stream through the conduit, traveling through the section surrounded by the cooling section of the jacket and through the section surrounded by the heating section, whereby the fluid sample stream is cooled and heated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for conditioning a fluid sample stream which comprises: a. a fluid conduit having an inlet and an outlet; b. a hollow heat exchange jacket, having a cooling section and a heating section, surrounding the conduit so as to form a heating section and a cooling section in the conduit; c. a vortex tube; d. means for introducing a gas under pressure into the vortex tube so that the gas separates into two exit streams from the vortex tube, a heated stream and a cooled stream; e. means for passing the heated gas stream into the heating section of the heat exchange jacket; f. means for passing the cooled gas stream into the cooling section of the heat exchange jacket; g. means for passing the fluid sample stream through the conduit, traveling through the section surrounded by the cooling section of the jacket and through the section surrounded by the heating section, whereby the fluid sample stream is cooled and heated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the two sections of the heat exchange jacket are separated from one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including means for controlling the temperature differential between the heating and cooling sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the control means is positioned so as to regulate the passage of the heated gas stream from the vortex tube into the heating section of the heat exchange jacket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conduit is a generally vertically disposed tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cooling section is below the heating section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the fluid sample stream is a water vapor containing gas stream and the cooling section is below the heating section, water vapor condensing and separating from the sample stream in the cooling section, and including as an additional element, means for collecting the condensed water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including a container for an analytical instrument mounted on the outlet of the conduit so that the conditioned sample stream passes therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 8 including the following additional elemeNts: a. a vertically disposed junction tube connected at its upper arm to the inlet of the conduit, and at its base to a source of sample gas; b. a vessel for collecting condensed water sealed to the lower arm of the junction, so that some of the sample gas and the condensed water pass downwardly into the vessel and the remainder of the sample gas passes upwardly through the conduit, whereby it is conditioned.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including the following additional elements: a. a sample stream discharge line from the instrument container extending downwardly into and sealed in the condensed water vessel; b. means for applying suction to the vessel so that the sample gas and condensed water are pulled therefrom, whereby the fluid sample stream is pulled through the conduit and instrument container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for applying suction is a vacuum pump.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the lower arm of the junction tube and the discharge line from the instrument container are positioned relative to one another in the vessel so that the amount of sample gas from the source passing through the conduit is controlled.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
89 words
The method of conditioning a fluid sample stream which comprises: a. passing a gas under pressure into a vortex tube so that the gas separates into two exit streams from the vortex tube, a heated stream and a cooled stream; b. passing the cooled stream into heat exchange relationship with the fluid sample stream so that the fluid sample is cooled; c. passing the heated stream into heat exchange relationship with the fluid sample stream so that the fluid sample is heated, whereby the fluid sample stream is conditioned.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
89 words
The method of conditioning a fluid sample stream which comprises: a. passing a gas under pressure into a vortex tube so that the gas separates into two exit streams from the vortex tube, a heated stream and a cooled stream; b. passing the cooled stream into heat exchange relationship with the fluid sample stream so that the fluid sample is cooled; c. passing the heated stream into heat exchange relationship with the fluid sample stream so that the fluid sample is heated, whereby the fluid sample stream is conditioned.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the fluid sample stream is flowing generally upward.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13 including the additional step of regulating the flow of the heated gas stream so that the temperature differential between the heated and cooled gas stream is controlled.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the fluid sample stream is a water vapor containing gas stream and the sample stream is cooled sufficiently by heat exchange with the cooled gas stream to condense the water vapor, and including the additional step of separating the condensed water from the sample stream.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 16 including the additional step of: a. passing only a portion of the fluid sample stream into heat exchange relationship with the gas streams from the vortex tube; b. separating the remainder of the sample stream with the condensed water.
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) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |