Process gas chromatograph analyzer

Claim 2

IN A GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY APPARATUS, A MEANS FOR ACHIEVING MORE ACCURATE TEST DATA BY REDUCING TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS WITHIN THE CHROMATOGRAPH COMPONENTS, COMPRISING: A. AN INSULATED CONTAINER, B. AN ESSENTIALLY SOLID HEATING BLOCK, HAVING PLURALITY OF INTERNAL PASSAGES MOUNTED INSIDE THE INSULATED CON TAINER, C. A PLURALITY OF DETECTOR FILAMENTS EMBEDDED IN THE HEATING BLOCK, SAID INTERNAL PASSAGES PROVIDING FLUID COMMUNICATION FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE HEATING BLOCK TO THE DECTOR FILAMENTS, D. HEATING MEANS EMBEDDED IN THE HEATING BLOCK, AND E. TUBING WOUND AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE HEATING BLOCK FOR USE AS COLUMN SEPARTORS.

Claim 3

Apparatus claimed in claim 1 whereby the plurality of tubes are connected to the circumference of the heating block by means comprising: a. an annular ring with a size and shape that allows the ring to fit snugly around the circumference of the heating block, b. a plurality of tubes wound tightly around the annular ring, and c. means for securing the tubes to the ring.

Claim 4

Apparatus claimed in claim 1 which includes a means for heating the air surrounding the heating block as well as the sample gas, comprising: a. an essentially solid metal heating plate, and b. heating means embedded in the heating plate.

Claim 5

In a gas chromatography apparatus, a thermal conductivity detector designed to maintain a constant temperature, comprising: a. an insulated container, b. an essentially solid cylindrical heating block, having a plurality of internal chambers and passages and mounted inside the insulated container, c. a plurality of detector filaments, d. a plurality of insulated plugs, holding their respective detector filament securely in each respective internal chamber of the heating block, said internal passages providing fluid communication from the exterior of the heating block to the detector filaments and between the detector filaments, e. a means for heating the heating block and maintaining a constant preset temperature, comprising: i. an elongated heating element resting in an internal chamber spanning the longitudinal axis of the heating block, and ii. means to detect the temperature of the heating block and for changing the temperature in the heating element as required, and f. a plurality of tubes wound tightly around the circumference of the heating block for use as column separators and carrier gas flow control.

Claim 6

In a gas chromatography apparatus, a thermal conductivity detector designed to maintain a constant temperature, comprising: a. an insulated container, b. an essentially solid cylindrical heating block, having a plurality of internal chambers and passages and mounted inside the insulated container, c. a plurality of detector filaments, d. a plurality of insulated plugs, holding their respective detector filament securely in each respective internal chamber of the heating block, said internal passages providing fluid communication from the exterior of the heating block to the detector filaments and between the detector filaments, e. a means for heating the heating block and maintaining a constant preset temperature, comprising: i. an elongated heating element resting in an internal chamber spanning the longitudinal axis of the heating block, and ii. means to detect the temperature of the heating block and for changing the temperature in the heating element as required, and f. a plurality of tubes wound tightly around the circumference of the heating block for use as column separators and carrier gas flow control.

Claim 7

Apparatus claimed in claim 4, which includes a means for preventing burnout of the detector filaments comprising: a pressure switch mounted in the chromatograph downstream from the detector, so installed that the power to the detector is switched off when the pressure in the chromatograph drops below a predetermined amount.

Claim 8

Apparatus claimed in claim 5 where said means for preventing burnout of the detector filaments comprises: a flow measurement device downstream from the detector, so installed that the power to tHe detector is switched off when the flow rate in the chromatograph drops below a predetermined amount.