Control chamber apparatus for pollutant detectors

Claim 2

A control chamber apparatus for a pollutant detector for chemiluminescent detection of pollutants by reacting a reagent with a sample to determine the amount of pollutant therein, comprising: a. reaction chamber means for receiving the reagent and the sample; b. photometric circuit means for measuring the reaction between the reagent and the sample in said reaction chamber means; c. canister means for housing both said reaction chamber means and said photometric means therein; and d. control means for regulating temperature in said canister means to thereby regulate the temperature of said reaction chamber means and photometric circuit means wherein detection conditions are stabilized for accurate determination of the amount of pollutant.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, further including: means for magnetically shielding said photometric circuit means.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said photometric circuit means comprises: a. photomultiplier tube means for sensing the intensity of reaction in said reaction chamber means; b. dynode chain means for regulating the bias applied to said photomultiplier tube means; and c. electrometer means for amplifying the output of said photomultiplier tube means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, further including: cover means for thermally insulating said canister means wherein the temperature in said canister means is maintained.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, further including: a. a mounting member in said canister means; b. said mounting member having a first receiving socket and a second receiving socket formed therein; c. said mounting member further having an aperture formed therein extending between said first receiving socket and said second receiving socket; d. said first receiving socket and said second receiving socket being formed in said mounting member adjacent each other; e. said reaction chamber means being mounted in said first receiving socket; and f. said photometric circuit means being mounted in said second receiving socket substantially adjacent said reaction chamber means, wherein spacing between said reaction chamber means and said photometric circuit means is reduced.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, further including: a. charging gas inlet means formed in said enclosure means, wherein said canister means may receive a charge of dehumidified gas therein to maintain substantially equal temperature conditions within said canister means.

Claim 8

The structure of claim 1, further including: flow control means for controlling the flow rate of the sample through said reaction chamber means.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 1, wherein said control means comprises: a. thermostat means for sensing the temperature in said canister means; b. Peltier effect means for cooling said canister means when energized; and c. switch means responsive to said thermostat means for energizing said Peltier effect means.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 8, further including: a. heat sink means for extracting excess heat from said Peltier effect means; and b. fan means for cooling said heat sink means.

Claim 11

The structure of claim 5, further including: a. sealing plate means for sealing said aperture in said mounting member; b. reagent inlet means for conveying reagent to said reaction chamber; c. sample inlet means for conveying the sample to said reaction chamber; and d. said reagent inlet means directing the reagent and said sample inlet means directing the sample against said sealing plate means.