US3904486A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oxygen probe with self-contained source of oxygen gas, method of use and oxygen generating composition therefor
Assignee: Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife
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Filing: 1974-07-11
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Granted: 1975-09-09
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Expires: 1994-07-11
Abstract
Abstract An improvement is provided in a probe of the type including a cell disposed in a Vycor cell tube, and having a metal wire connected thereto. The probe, in use, is provided with gaseous oxygen as the reference gas so that it may be used for directly determining the amount of free oxygen gas in molten metal. The improvement involves providing a self-contained solid oxygen-gas source and a vent tube within the Vycor tube. The self-contained solid oxygen-gas source may be a Group II A metal peroxide, e.g., barium peroxide, which decomposes at the operating temperature of the probe to generate substantially pure gaseous oxygen at a pressure of one atmosphere or more while leaving a residue having substantially no vapor pressure at that temperature. The solid oxygen-gas source decomposes at the operating temperature of the probe to bathe the cell with continuously flowing reference oxygen gas. The vent tube is disposed with one open end near the cell and with the other open end outside the cell tube. The vent tube ensures that oxygen which is produced is at a pressure of one atmosphere, and that the oxygen gas replaces any other gas, e.g. air which is in the cell tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald K Faurschou
- 👤 Harold A Cohen
- 👤 Albert H Brooks
- 👤 Charles B Alcock
- 👤 Craufurd S Monier-Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/406; G01N27/407; G01N27/4075; G01N27/4076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
IN A PROBE TIP SUB-ASSEMBLY FOR A PROBE FOR THE DIRECT DETERMINATION OF A DISSOLVED GAS IN A MOLTEN METAL OF THE TYPE INCLUDING: A. A HEAT-RESISTANT, SUBSTANTIALLY ELECTRICALLY NON-CONDUCTIVE CELL TUBE, B. A CELL, COMPRISING A PERFORMED SOLID ELECTROLYTE COMPACT WHICH RETAINS ITS IONIC CONDUCTION PROPERTIES AND WHICH DOES NOT EXIST SUBSTANTIAL ELECTRONIC CONDUCTION PROPERTIES AT THE TEPERATURE OF THE MOLTEN METAL, SECURED AT ONE OPEN END OF SAID CELL TUBE, AND C. AT LEAST ONE ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE METALLIC ELEMENT IN INTIMATE ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH SAID CELL, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: A SOLID SOURCE OF A REFERENCE OXYGEN GAS GENERATING AGENT DISPOSED WITHIN (A), SAID SOLID OXYGEN GAS GENERATING AGENT COMPRISING A GROUP II A METAL PERIOXIDE, WHICH DECOMPOSES AS IT PASSES THROUGH A TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 850*C925*C, THEREBY TO GENERATE SUBSTANTIALLY PURE GASEOUS OXYGEN AT A PRESSURE OF ONE ATMOSPHERE OR MORE, SAID SOLID BEING ADAPTED TO GENERATE SUBSTANTIALLY PURE REFERENCE OXYGEN GAS AT THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE OF THE PROBE WHILE LEAVING A RESIDUE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY NO VAPOR PHASE AT SAID OPERATING TEMPERATURE, AND A VENT TUBE, ONE OPEN END OF WHICH IS ADJACENT SAID CELL (B), THE OTHER OPEN END OF WHICH PROJECTS BEYOND THE END OF THE CELL TUBE (A).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
IN A PROBE TIP SUB-ASSEMBLY FOR A PROBE FOR THE DIRECT DETERMINATION OF A DISSOLVED GAS IN A MOLTEN METAL OF THE TYPE INCLUDING: A. A HEAT-RESISTANT, SUBSTANTIALLY ELECTRICALLY NON-CONDUCTIVE CELL TUBE, B. A CELL, COMPRISING A PERFORMED SOLID ELECTROLYTE COMPACT WHICH RETAINS ITS IONIC CONDUCTION PROPERTIES AND WHICH DOES NOT EXIST SUBSTANTIAL ELECTRONIC CONDUCTION PROPERTIES AT THE TEPERATURE OF THE MOLTEN METAL, SECURED AT ONE OPEN END OF SAID CELL TUBE, AND C. AT LEAST ONE ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE METALLIC ELEMENT IN INTIMATE ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH SAID CELL, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: A SOLID SOURCE OF A REFERENCE OXYGEN GAS GENERATING AGENT DISPOSED WITHIN (A), SAID SOLID OXYGEN GAS GENERATING AGENT COMPRISING A GROUP II A METAL PERIOXIDE, WHICH DECOMPOSES AS IT PASSES THROUGH A TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 850*C925*C, THEREBY TO GENERATE SUBSTANTIALLY PURE GASEOUS OXYGEN AT A PRESSURE OF ONE ATMOSPHERE OR MORE, SAID SOLID BEING ADAPTED TO GENERATE SUBSTANTIALLY PURE REFERENCE OXYGEN GAS AT THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE OF THE PROBE WHILE LEAVING A RESIDUE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY NO VAPOR PHASE AT SAID OPERATING TEMPERATURE, AND A VENT TUBE, ONE OPEN END OF WHICH IS ADJACENT SAID CELL (B), THE OTHER OPEN END OF WHICH PROJECTS BEYOND THE END OF THE CELL TUBE (A).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
THE IMPROVED SUB-ASSEMBLY OF CLAIM 1 WHEREIN THE SOLID OXYGEN GAS GENERATING AGENTS IS BARIUM PEROXIDE.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
THE IMPROVED SUB-ASSEMBLY OF CLAIM 2 WHEREIN THE BARIUM PEROXIDE IS IN THE FORM OF A PERFORMED COMPRESSED PELLET
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improved sub-assembly of claim 3 wherein said compressed pellet comprises a hollow cylindrical pellet of said barium peroxide surrounding, and secured to, a peripheral area of said vent tube, adjacent the mid-point of said tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improved sub-assembly of claim 4 wherein said vent tube is secured to the cell tube by refractory cement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A plug assembly for a probe for the direct determination of a dissolved gas in a molten metal, comprising the sub-assembly of claim 4 in accordance with a plug, said plug being formed of heat-resistant, substantially electrically non-conductive material, said plug being provided with a longitudinally-extending aperture, and wherein said cell tube (a) is disposed, and sealed, within said longitudinally-extending aperture.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
109 words
A METHOD OF PROVIDING A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF GASEOUS OXYGEN REFERENCE GAS DURING THE USE OF A PROBE FOR THE DIRECT DETERMINATION OF OXYGEN IN THE MOLTEN STEEL INVOLVING THE USE OF A SOLID ELECTROLYTE AND A GALVANIC OXYGEN FUEL CELL PRINCIPLE SAID METHOD COMPRISING: PROVIDING A PERFORMED COMPRESSED MASS OF A GROUP II A METAL PEROXIDE, WITHIN A RESTRICTED ZONE INCLUDING SAID SOLID ELECTROLYTE, DECOMPOSING SAID PEROXIDE BY THE HEAT OF THE MOLTEN METAL, AND USING THE GASEOUS OXYGEN SO-PRODUCED FIRSTLY TO SWEEP STAGNANT GAS FROM A ZONE AT THE BASE OF THE SOLID ELECTROLYTE, AND SECONDLY TO BATHE THE SOLID ELECTROLYTE WITH SAID FLOWING, GENERATED OXYGEN GAS,
Claim 9
Independent Claim
109 words
A METHOD OF PROVIDING A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF GASEOUS OXYGEN REFERENCE GAS DURING THE USE OF A PROBE FOR THE DIRECT DETERMINATION OF OXYGEN IN THE MOLTEN STEEL INVOLVING THE USE OF A SOLID ELECTROLYTE AND A GALVANIC OXYGEN FUEL CELL PRINCIPLE SAID METHOD COMPRISING: PROVIDING A PERFORMED COMPRESSED MASS OF A GROUP II A METAL PEROXIDE, WITHIN A RESTRICTED ZONE INCLUDING SAID SOLID ELECTROLYTE, DECOMPOSING SAID PEROXIDE BY THE HEAT OF THE MOLTEN METAL, AND USING THE GASEOUS OXYGEN SO-PRODUCED FIRSTLY TO SWEEP STAGNANT GAS FROM A ZONE AT THE BASE OF THE SOLID ELECTROLYTE, AND SECONDLY TO BATHE THE SOLID ELECTROLYTE WITH SAID FLOWING, GENERATED OXYGEN GAS,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the peroxide is barium peroxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A COMPOSITION FOR FORMING THE SUB-ASSEMBLY OF CLAIM 3 COMPRISING: THE INTIMATE ADMIXTURE OF BARIUM PEROXIDE, AQUEOUS SODIUM SILICATE AND TALC, IN THE FORM OF SCREENED, DRIED PARTICLES OF 40-425 MICRONS IN SIZE.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The composition of claim 9 in the form of a molded compressed hollow cylinder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3773641A
Cited
US3809639A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |