US3634053A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Odorization method and apparatus
Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
•
Filing: 1970-04-06
•
Granted: 1972-01-11
•
Expires: 1990-04-06
Abstract
Abstract Odorant is metered into a flowing gas stream by sensing the rate of flow of the stream or the odorant concentration of the stream and reporting said rate or concentration as an output signal to an actuating means joined to a membrane assembly having a gaspermeable membrane part immersed in the stream. Odorant within the assembly is permeated through the membrane, and into the stream in response to said output signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald L Klass
- 👤 Carl D Landahl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:59
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D11/00; G05D11/02; G05D11/13; G05D11/135; G05D11/138; C; C10; C10L; C10L3/00; C10L3/003; C10L3/006; G05D11/006; G05D11/131; G05D11/132; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/17; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0324; Y10T137/0329; Y10T137/0352; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2499; Y10T137/2509; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87571; Y10T137/87652
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
21 words
A method which includes the steps of claim 1 above wherein the gas stream is natural gas flowing in a pipeline.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method which includes the steps of claim 2 above wherein the change in the odorant level is determined by sensing static and dynamic pressure of the gas stream, and the output signal is modulated by means responsive to changes in the dynamic pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method which includes the steps of claim 2 above wherein the changes in the odorant level are determined by sensing the rotational rate of a turbine assembly in the gas flow, and said rotationaL rate is reported as a modulated signal to actuate a pressure altering means located in the membrane assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method which includes the steps of claim 2 above in which the membrane assembly includes an immiscible liquid system comprising a nonpermeable fluid which forms an interface with the permeable odorant in a communicating permeable membrane walled assembly, and further including the steps of moving the liquid system in the membrane assembly to move said interface and thereby vary the membrane surface area exposed to the permeable odorant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method which includes the steps of claim 2 above wherein changes in the odorant level are determined by sensing the odorant concentration at a downstream location in the gas stream, and operating said actuation means to meter a controlled amount of odorant into the gas stream by means of said enclosed membrane assembly at an upstream location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method which includes the steps of claim 2 above, wherein the odorant is tert-butyl mercaptan
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method which includes the steps of claim 7 above, wherein the membrane is silicone rubber.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for delivering a metered amount of an odorant into a flowing gas stream to substantially maintain the odorant level therein, including sensing means exposed to the flowing gas to detect changes in the desired odorant level, means for delivering an output signal in accordance with detections of said sensing means, an enclosed permeable membrane assembly having a permeable membrane on at least a portion thereof immersed in said flowing gas stream, a fluid odorant in said membrane assembly, and actuating means in said assembly for changing the rate of fluid odorant movement through said permeable membrane, and said actuating means being responsive to said output signal for changing the rate of fluid odorant through the membrane in the assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus which includes the features of claim 9 above, wherein the gas is natural gas flowing in a pipeline.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus which includes the features of claim 9 above, wherein the sensing means includes a static pressure tube, and a pitot pressure tube exposed to the gas flow, and means outside said gas stream to detect changes in the pitot pressure, and to send out a correspondingly modulated signal to means to actuate said movement of fluid odorant through the membrane in the assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus which includes the features of claim 9 above, wherein said means deliver said output signal as a modulated output signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus which includes the features of claim 12 above wherein said sensing means is a flow rate sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus which includes the features of claim 12 above, wherein said sensing means is an odorant concentration sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus which includes the features of claim 12 above wherein the membrane assembly includes a cylinder, a piston operative in one end of the cylinder to change the pressure of the odorant therein, and a permeable membrane mounted over the opposite end of the cylinder, which is immersed in said gas flow.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
An apparatus which includes the features of claim 12 above, wherein the membrane assembly includes a reservoir for a nonpermeable fluid at one end, a reservoir at the other end for said permeable odorant and an intermediate communicating, continuous permeable membrane walled chamber, said nonpermeable and permeable fluids being immiscible and forming an interface therebetween, said membrane walled chamber being immersed in the gas flow, and a piston member engaging the nonpermeable fluid reservoir for moving the interface to vary the membrane area exposed to the permeable odorant.
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) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |