Patent US3664178A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3664178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid handling apparatus
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-07
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1990-04-07
Abstract
Abstract Fluid analysis apparatus includes a sample chamber that has a constituent sensor in it and an inlet conduit connected to the sample chamber. A heater assembly surrounds the inlet conduit. The heater assembly includes a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between the preheater and final stages. Tempering fluid is flowed sequentially through the preheater stage, the heat supply stage and final stage and around the sample chamber for maintaining the sample chamber and the constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to that same temperature as it flows through the inlet conduit.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip Spergel
- 👤 Stanley L Gaines
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/145; A61B5/02; A61B5/02042; A61B5/08; A61B5/083; A61B5/0833; B; B01; B01L; B01L7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, a heat supply stage disposed between said preheater and final stages, and a housing having a first cavity section at said preheater and heat supply stages, a second cavity section of smaller cross-sectional dimensions than said first cavity section at said final heater stage, a transition wall section between said first and second cavity sections, and an insert member disposed in said first cavity section, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit, said insert member defining, with the inner surface of said first cavity section, a chamber through which said tempering fluid flows past said heat supply stage, said transition wall section cooperating with said insert member to define a transition passageway between said first and second cavity sections so dimensioned that said tempering fluid flows through said transition passageway and said second cavity section at substantially the same velocity as through said heat supply stage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, a heat supply stage disposed between said preheater and final stages, and a housing having a first cavity section at said preheater and heat supply stages, a second cavity section of smaller cross-sectional dimensions than said first cavity section at said final heater stage, a transition wall section between said first and second cavity sections, and an insert member disposed in said first cavity section, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit, said insert member defining, with the inner surface of said first cavity section, a chamber through which said tempering fluid flows past said heat supply stage, said transition wall section cooperating with said insert member to define a transition passageway between said first and second cavity sections so dimensioned that said tempering fluid flows through said transition passageway and said second cavity section at substantially the same velocity as through said heat supply stage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a first portion of said inlet conduit is disposed in coil form in said preheater stage and a second portion of said inlet conduit is in straight form and is located coaxially within said heat supply and final heater stages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature in said final stage to control the operation of said heat supply stage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said temperature sensor includes a thermistor disposed for sensing the temperature of said tempering fluid flowing through said final stage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heater assembly includes flow passages and further including chamber structures surrounding said sample chamber and said constituent sensor in communication with said heater assembly flow passages and a pump for circulating said tempering fluid in a closed circuit through said heater assembly flow passages and said chamber structures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said sensor includes an electrode assembly responsive to a particular gas in the sample and a selectively permeable membrane across which the particular gas of interest can diffuse for sensing by the electrode assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sample chamber is cylindrical in configuration and said inlet conduit is disposed in tangential relation to the cylindrical wall of said sample chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said sample chamber is formed in a structure of light transmitting material and further including a light source disposed to illuminate said structure so that the position of fluid in said sample chamber is observable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heater assembly includes a first port downstream from said heat supply stage for providing a flow path for said tempering fluid from said heater assembly, said sample chamber defining structure includes a second port in alignment with said first port for receiving said tempering fluid from said heater assembly, first seal means disposed between the end of said final stage and said sample chamber and second seal means disposed between said final stage and said chamber structure, said first port being located in said final stage between said first and Second seal means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a first portion of said inlet conduit is disposed in coil form in said preheater stage and a second portion of said inlet conduit is in straight form and is located coaxially within said heat supply and final heater stages and the volume capacity of said preheater stage is much greater than the volume capacity of said first portion of said inlet conduit in said preheater stage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber that is cylindrical in configuration, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected in tangential relation to the cylindrical wall of said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between said preheater and final stages, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber that is cylindrical in configuration, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected in tangential relation to the cylindrical wall of said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between said preheater and final stages, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber formed in a structure of light transmitting material, a light source disposed to illuminate said structure so that the position of fluid in said sample chamber is observable, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between said preheater and final stages, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber formed in a structure of light transmitting material, a light source disposed to illuminate said structure so that the position of fluid in said sample chamber is observable, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between said preheater and final stages, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
145 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between said pre-heater and final stages, a housing having a first cavity section which defines said preheater and heat supply stages and a second cavity section of smaller cross-sectional dimensions than said first cavity section which defines said final heater stage, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
145 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between said pre-heater and final stages, a housing having a first cavity section which defines said preheater and heat supply stages and a second cavity section of smaller cross-sectional dimensions than said first cavity section which defines said final heater stage, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 and further including an insert member disposed in said first cavity section and defining, with the inner surface of said first cavity section, an annular chamber through which said tempering fluid flows past said heater supply stage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said housing further includes a transition wall section between said first and second cavity sections, said transition wall section cooperating with said insert member to define a transition passageway between said first and second cavity sections to dimensionsed that said tempering fluid flows through said transition passageway and said second cavity section at substantially the same velocity as through said heat supply stage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
161 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between said preheater and final stages, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit, said heater assembly further including a first port downstream from said heat supply stage for providing a flow path for said tempering fluid from said heater assembly and a second port in the sample chamber defining structure aligned with said first port for receiving said tempering fluid from said heater assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
161 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between said preheater and final stages, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit, said heater assembly further including a first port downstream from said heat supply stage for providing a flow path for said tempering fluid from said heater assembly and a second port in the sample chamber defining structure aligned with said first port for receiving said tempering fluid from said heater assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
159 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heater supply stage disposed between said preheater and final stages, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit, first seal means disposed between the end of said final stage and said sample chamber and second seal means disposed between said final stage and said chamber structure, and a discharge port for said tempering fluid is located in said final stage between said first and second seal means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
159 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heater supply stage disposed between said preheater and final stages, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit, first seal means disposed between the end of said final stage and said sample chamber and second seal means disposed between said final stage and said chamber structure, and a discharge port for said tempering fluid is located in said final stage between said first and second seal means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
131 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage having a volume capacity much greater than the volume capacity of that portion of said inlet conduit in said preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between said pre-heater and final stages, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
131 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage having a volume capacity much greater than the volume capacity of that portion of said inlet conduit in said preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between said pre-heater and final stages, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
153 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between said preheater and final stages, means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit, a thermistor disposed for sensing the temperature of said tempering fluid flowing through said final stage to control the operation of said heat supply stage and a second temperature sensor disposed in juxtaposition to said thermistor for sensing the temperature of said heater assembly.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
153 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between said preheater and final stages, means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit, a thermistor disposed for sensing the temperature of said tempering fluid flowing through said final stage to control the operation of said heat supply stage and a second temperature sensor disposed in juxtaposition to said thermistor for sensing the temperature of said heater assembly.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
193 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed betWeen said preheater and final stages, said heat supply stage including a thin annular wall element, an insert member disposed within said annular wall element so that an annular chamber is defined therebetween, the width of said wall element and the width of said annular chamber being substantially the same, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit, electric heater means disposed over said wall element for supplying heat to tempering fluid flowing through said annular chamber to control the operation of said heat supply stage, and circuitry connecting said temperature sensor to said electric heater means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
193 words
Fluid analysis apparatus comprising a sample chamber, a constituent sensor in communication with said sample chamber, an inlet conduit connected to said sample chamber, and a heater assembly surrounding said inlet conduit, said heater assembly including a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed betWeen said preheater and final stages, said heat supply stage including a thin annular wall element, an insert member disposed within said annular wall element so that an annular chamber is defined therebetween, the width of said wall element and the width of said annular chamber being substantially the same, and means to flow a tempering fluid sequentially through said preheater stage, said heat supply stage, said final stage and around said sample chamber for maintaining said sample chamber and said constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to be measured to said stable temperature as it flows through said inlet conduit, electric heater means disposed over said wall element for supplying heat to tempering fluid flowing through said annular chamber to control the operation of said heat supply stage, and circuitry connecting said temperature sensor to said electric heater means.
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) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |